With the recent news of outbreaks of swine influenza across Northern America, governments across the nation are hoping to reduce the risk of this contagious virus reaching pandemic level. Swine influenza (strain H1N1) is much like any regular flu virus, but being a new strain of influenza means that most people do not have an immune system resistance to this virus and are at risk of catching it and becoming sick. Swine influenza shares many of the same symptoms as other strains of influenza; such as fever, sore throat, cough, chills, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue. A majority of people in Northern America have most likely had the flu at least once in their life, but what is concerning people about swine influenza the most is its high mortality rate. Conventional influenza causes death in only about one tenth of one perfect of its victims, but studies of the recent swine influenza outbreaks in Mexico have shown that the mortality rate for this type of flu can be as high as six percent according to Rich Galen at CNSNews.com. This high mortality rate, along with its ease of transmission among humans, has led state and federal governments to create innovative new solutions to quickly detect a person who has influenza and prevent the flu virus from spreading. |Perhaps one of the most interesting and innovative solutions put into effect to prevent the spread of influenza is the use of thermal imaging cameras at airport security checkpoints. Thermal imaging cameras operate on a spectrum of light that the human eye cannot see and have the unique ability to measure the heat levels of whatever is being monitored. Conventionally employed by national militaries across the world, thermal imaging cameras are used for a variety of purposes. They are presently being used in weapons systems for tracking airplanes and missiles by their heat signatures and are used for night vision by detecting humans from their body heat that can be differentiated from the ambient heat of their surroundings.
By using thermal imaging cameras at airport security checkpoints, airport and government safety officials can quickly detect someone who has a fever, which is one of the most common symptoms of swine flu and other types of influenza. Knowing that swine flu has originated in Mexico, authorities can screen passengers who are returning home from that country and have the ability to pull them aside and further inspect them for symptoms of the virus. Sources at apnews.myway.com indicate that if someone who has all of the symptoms of swine flu has been detected traveling back from Mexico, they can be quarantined to prevent transmission to other people. Thermal imaging systems have always been very beneficial to governments across the world and authorities hope to utilize this interesting technology to prevent a world-wide influenza pandemic.
by Brian Loring
References
Kole, William J. and Cheng, Maria. "World takes drastic steps to contain swine flu" April 29, 2009. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090429/D97SD35O0.html. (Retrieved on April 30, 2009).
Galen, Rich. "'Don't Cry For Me Influenza". April 27, 2009. http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=47208. (Retrieved on April 30, 2009).
"Swine influenza". The Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza. (Retrieved on April 30, 2009)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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